EAST Fremantle tall Anjelique Raison was arguably best on ground at half time of East Fremantle’s win over Peel Thunder on the weekend, booting two goals and looking incredibly dangerous. Despite a quieter second half, the top-age talent was still able to be among the most impressive players afield with 16 disposals, seven marks and five inside 50s to go with her two majors.

Raison is one of a number of top-age AFLW Draft prospects looking to get their opportunity in the end of year draft, with the forward/ruck having showcased her versatility over the years that includes key back and midfield. On this occasion, it was largely her lead-up work that stood out in what was her last WAFLW match prior to the AFLW Under 18 Championships.

ClaremontKey Position Utility

Anjelique Raison

Height: 180cm

Weight: -

DOB: 07-09-2005

2023 WAFL Women’s: Round 6
East Fremantle 7.11 (53) def. Peel Thunder 3.0 (18)

STATS: 16 disposals (8 kicks, 8 handballs), 69% disposal efficiency, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 3 hitouts, 1 clearance 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

FIRST QUARTER

Anjelique Raison is a tall who brings effort to the contest even when she cannot cleanly take it herself, with her pressuring around the ball forcing opponents to make mistakes. In the opening two minutes she would tap the ball along the ground at ground level while being tackle, and then attempt to mark back with the flight shortly after, but could not quite get there.

Her first official touch was a great mark on the lead against Peel Thunder skipper Ebony Dowson to thump the ball inside 50. Following that entry, she would apply pressure to opponents laying back-to-back tackles with the second unfortunately pinged for holding on too long. Under pressure at ground level in the 10th minute, Raison got a clean handball out to fellow State Academy member Tayah Palmer in the forward pocket.

Later in the term, Raison rolled into the ruck and was pressuring another State Academy member in Kaitlyn Srhoj, and while not laying a tackle, that extra effort to force a decision out of an opponent is key. Her best play of the term came in the 16th minute and exemplified her work rate.

She won it on the wing, kicked to a contest at half-forward, then worked down to be the next kick away in the contest. She went up for the mark, appeared to have taken it, but was deemed to be touched and tackled to ground. Had that been paid, she would have had a regulation set shot in front of goal. Her final touch in the opening quarter was a handball off the deck to a teammate.

SECOND QUARTER

The second quarter is where Raison applied the scoreboard pressure to the Thunder, by kicking two goals and being involved i everything. In the opening minute, Raison had a snap close to the boundary line that was smothered after a clean pick up off the deck. Again she pressured opponents inside 50 as a point of different for a key position player.

At the five-minute mark, Raison gathered cleanly at the top of 50 and gave off a nice handball. After the ball was turned over the next kick came in her direction and the East Fremantle clunked a grab 40m from goal. She kicked to the top of the goalsquare to put pressure on the Peel Thunder defence over having a 50m crack at goal and potentially getting touched on the line.

After gathering the ball, getting away and appearing to be held for no free kick inside 50, Raison kept working and would soon be rewarded for her efforts on the scoreboard. At the seven-minute mark of the second term, she took a strong mark, then handballed to the running Ashleigh Gomes. As Gomes sidestepped an opponent, she handballed back to Raison who ran to 55m and launched towards goal, bouncing home in a ripping effort.

Her goal earned her a rest for around five minutes, then came back on in the ruck, winning a hitout and following up with a strong tackle at ground level to lock it up. At the 14-minute mark, Raison took a grab 60m out, stepped between two players and handballed to Sharon Wong to kick inside 50. A minute later, she used her strength to pull the ball out of the ruck and followed up with a handball to Gomes.

Her last play of the day was a strong grab 60m out from goal but an infringement from Peel Thunder before she could take her kick mean she got the 50m penalty taking her to just outside the goalsquare. The siren sounded, but the talented forward was never going to miss from there, nailing the set shot for her second and handing her side a 37-0 lead at the main break.

THIRD QUARTER

Though getting less chances, Raison still had some moments in the third term, winning a downfield free due to Zippy Fish being pushed on the wing after she kicked. Raison handballed off to Fish who kept running, then shortly after took an intercept mark to kick it back into the danger zone.

As the ball spent far more time up the other time, Raison got a chance in the 12th minute minute but the ball just went over her head as she backed back into traffic. Her pressure in the middle of the ground when leading up or rolling into the ruck remained, then her last touch was a long kick into the middle after a grab on the defensive side of the wing, though ended up a rare turnover.

FOURTH QUARTER

Peel Thunder largely had forward half control in the final term, and the delivery inside 50 from East Fremantle was less methodical than it had been in the first half. Raison would add two more handballs to her disposal tally for the match, with a clean pickup on the wing and a quick one off the deck inside 50 to a teammate adding to her name.

She had an effort early in the term where the kick inside 50 just fell at her feet, and while she was able to win it, she was immediately tackled. Though her second half was lower in terms of her statistical presence, she was still working hard with her leading and pressuring.

CLOSING THOUGHTS ….

Anjelique Raison does have a point of difference in this year’s AFLW Draft crop compared to other key forwards. Though not having the athleticism that some might have, her natural skill and strength is ahead of many, and ahead of all else, her cleanliness at ground level for a 180cm player is very impressive. Time and time again the ball might be at her feet and she could scoop it up and give it off, or having to gather and assess with a quick handball.

The East Fremantle top-ager has the smarts, strength and skill to be a valuable player at the next level, and outside that explosiveness and agility that other key position players might have, Raison has the rest of the package.

Raison is also incredibly consistent, having kicked eight goals in five games this season, and kicked a goal in every match in 2023. In fact, going back to last season, Raison has now hit the scoreboard in 13 consecutive matches, and considering that time period included moments being thrown in defence and through the ruck, made it all the more impressive.

The 17 year-old will set her sights on a strong AFLW Under 18 Championships for Western Australia, starting with a huge match against South Australia in 10 days on Sunday, April 30.